Kicking off with protests across Arizona

Peaceful crowds overwhelmed the nation's capitol, as well as the Arizona State Capitol in downtown Phoenix, in a surprising show of force against the new president.

Increased unease for some immigrants

For four years, federal immigration authorities gave Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos a pass to remain in the U.S. rather than deport her back to Mexico.

That changed just weeks after Trump was inaugurated, when she went to check in as usual at the central Phoenix offices of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Instead of being released, she was taken into custody, while her husband, two children — both U.S.-born citizens — and a group of supporters watched in tears.

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Jacqueline Rayos Garcia (left) and her brother, Angel Rayos Garcia, are interviewed at the border wall on Feb. 10, 2017, in Nogales, Sonora. Their mom, Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos, is also being interviewed. Mark Henle/The Republic

Angel Rayos Garcia, 16, the son of Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos, speaks to the press as he is comforted by his father, the husband of Guadalupe, who doesn't wish to be identified by name, outside ICE headquarters in Phoenix on Feb. 9, 2017. Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos was taken into custody on Wednesday and deported to Mexico on Thursday. Jacqueline Rayos Garcia, 14, the daughter of Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos, looks on. David Wallace/The Republic

Jacqueline Rayos Garcia, 14, the daughter of Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos, cries as she speaks to the press as her father, the husband of Guadalupe, who doesn't wish to be identified by name, comforts her, during a press conference speaking about Guadalupe outside ICE headquarters in Phoenix on Feb. 9, 2017. Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos was taken into custody on Wednesday and deported to Mexico on Thursday. David Wallace/The Republic

Jacqueline Rayos Garcia, 14, the daughter of Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos, cries as her father, the husband of Guadalupe, who doesn't wish to be identified by name, comforts her, as they listen to Guadalupe's immigration attorney, Ray Ybarra-Maldonado, speak to the press during a press conference speaking about Guadalupe outside ICE headquarters in Phoenix on Feb. 9, 2017. Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos was taken into custody on Wednesday and deported to Mexico on Thursday. David Wallace/The Republic

Jacqueline Rayos Garcia, 14, the daughter of Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos, leans against her father, the husband of Guadalupe, who doesn't wish to be identified by name, during a press conference speaking about Guadalupe outside ICE headquarters in Phoenix on Feb. 9, 2017. Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos was taken into custody on Wednesday and deported to Mexico on Thursday. David Wallace/The Republic

Jacqueline Rayos Garcia, 14, the daughter of Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos, cries as she speaks to the press as her father, the husband of Guadalupe, who doesn't wish to be identified by name, comforts her, during a press conference speaking about Guadalupe outside ICE headquarters in Phoenix on Feb. 9, 2017. Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos was taken into custody on Wednesday and deported to Mexico on Thursday. David Wallace/The Republic

Hilda Canalas waves an American flag while her and other protesters temporarily block Central Avenue vehicle and light-rail traffic outside ICE headquarters in Phoenix on Feb. 8, 2016. People were protesting because Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos was taken into custody and could be deported. David Wallace/The Republic

Protesters temporarily block Central Avenue vehicle and light-rail traffic outside ICE headquarters in Phoenix on Feb. 8, 2016. People were protesting because Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos was taken into custody and could be deported. David Wallace/The Republic

Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos is locked in a van that is stopped by protesters outside the ICE office on Feb. 8, 2017 in Phoenix. For the past four years, federal immigration authorities have given Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos a pass to remain in the U.S. rather than deport her back to Mexico. Rob Schumacher/The Republic

Jacqueline Rayos Garcia, the daughter of Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos, protests outside ICE headquarters in Phoenix on Feb. 8, 2017. People were protesting because Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos was taken into custody and could be deported. David Wallace/The Republic

Phoenix Police clear protesters after they temporarily blocked Central Avenue vehicle and light rail traffic outside ICE headquarters in Phoenix on Feb. 8, 2016. People were protesting because Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos was taken into custody and could be deported. David Wallace/The Republic

Jacqueline Rayos Garcia, the daughter of Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos, protests outside ICE headquarters in Phoenix on Feb. 8, 2017. People were protesting because Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos was taken into custody and could be deported. David Wallace/The Republic

Angel Rayos Garcia (from left), the son of Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos; Gabby Martinez, 16; and Jacqueline Rayos Garcia, the daughter of Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos, protest outside ICE headquarters in Phoenix on Feb. 8, 2017. People were protesting because Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos was taken into custody and could be deported. David Wallace/The Republic

Demonstrators confront police officers during a protest near the local Immigration and Customs Enforcement office Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Phoenix on Feb. 8, 2017. Ben Moffat/The Republic

Jacqueline Rayos Garcia, the daughter of Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos, protests outside ICE headquarters in Phoenix on Feb. 8, 2017. People were protesting because Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos was taken into custody and could be deported. David Wallace/The Republic

A demonstrator argues with a police officer during a protest near the local Immigration and Customs Enforcement office Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Phoenix on Feb. 8, 2017. Ben Moffat/The Republic

Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos is locked in a van that is stopped by protesters outside the ICE office in Phoenix on Feb. 8, 2017. For the past four years, federal immigration authorities have given Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos a pass to remain in the U.S. rather than deport her back to Mexico. Rob Schumacher/The Republic

Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos is locked in a van that is stopped by protesters outside the ICE office on Feb. 8, 2017, in Phoenix. For the past four years, federal immigration authorities have given Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos a pass to remain in the U.S. rather than deport her back to Mexico. Rob Schumacher/The Republic

A protester locked himself to the van carrying Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos that is stopped by protesters outside the ICE office on Feb. 8, 2017, in Phoenix. For the past four years, federal immigration authorities have given Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos a pass to remain in the U.S. rather than deport her back to Mexico. Rob Schumacher/The Republic

A protester locked himself to the van carrying Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos that is stopped by protesters outside the ICE office on Feb. 8, 2017 in Phoenix. For the pastfouryears, federal immigration authorities have givenGuadalupe Garcia de Rayos a pass to remain in the U.S. rather than deport her back to Mexico. Rob Schumacher/The Republic

Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos is locked in a van that is stopped by protesters outside the ICE office on Feb. 8, 2017, in Phoenix. For the pastfouryears, federal immigration authorities have givenGuadalupe Garcia de Rayos a pass to remain in the U.S. rather than deport her back to Mexico. Rob Schumacher/The Republic

Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos (center, at microphones) on Feb. 8, 2017, addresses supporters who gathered outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in central Phoenix, where she would later learn that she was being deported. Brianna Bradley/The Republic

Everything you need to know about the Empowerment Scholarship Account program in Arizona.
Wochit

Many lawmakers and advocacy groups argued that financially disadvantaged families from struggling schools reap the benefit of expanded school choice, but a Republic investigation revealed students using taxpayer aid to transfer from public to private schools are abandoning higher-performing districts in more-affluent areas.

Wildfires, present and past

One of the most destructive wildfires in the state this year, the Goodwin Fire in June, burned about 28,500 acres and a few structures in the Bradshaw Mountains, closed part of State Route 69 and forced the evacuation of hundreds of residents of Mayer.

The fire did not claim any human lives, and authorities said it appeared to have been human-caused, though not intentionally.

The Granite Mountain Hotshots story was made into a movie in 2017. Eric Marsh (played by Josh Brolin, front) leads the hotshots up the trail at Yarnell Hill in the movie "Only the Brave." The film, based on the 2013 deaths of Arizona's Granite Mountain Hotshots, was filmed in New Mexico.(Photo: Courtesy of Richard Foreman)

In October, "Only the Brave" — a movie about the Granite Mountain Hotshots, 19 of whom were killed in the Yarnell Hill Fire on June 30, 2013 — was released to critical acclaim.

Burton Barr library flooding

During a monsoon storm in July, a "pre-action" fire sprinkler system on the fifth floor of Burton Barr Central Library in Phoenix mistook dust for smoke and released water into the hole-filled pipes, flooding the library and damaging 6,000 books.

Everything solar eclipse

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ASU student Louisa Singleton, watch solar-eclipse with their protective glasses at Hayden Lawn in ASU Tempe campus on Monday, August 21, 2017. This party is organized by ASU's School of Earth and Space Exploration. Nick Oza The Arizona Republic

Steven Williams, in front with other ASU students watch solar-eclipse wear's their protective glasses at Hayden Lawn in ASU Tempe campus on Monday, August 21, 2017. This party is organized by ASU's School of Earth and Space Exploration. Nick Oza The Arizona Republic

ASU students Elizabeth Lara - community advocacy & social policy major and Kane kimball- undecided major, watch solar-eclipse with their protective glasses at Hayden Lawn in ASU Tempe campus on Monday, August 21, 2017. This party is organized by ASU's School of Earth and Space Exploration. Nick Oza The Arizona Republic

Martha Enderica watch solar-eclipse with her daughter Carolina Barrezueta with their protective glasses at Hayden Lawn in ASU Tempe campus on Monday, August 21, 2017. This party is organized by ASU's School of Earth and Space Exploration. Nick Oza The Arizona Republic

Kristin Cottle watch solar-eclipse with her daughter J'Neil Cottle, 23, wearing their protective glasses at Hayden Lawn in ASU Tempe campus on Monday, August 21, 2017. This party is organized by ASU's School of Earth and Space Exploration. Nick Oza The Arizona Republic

ASU students watch solar-eclipse with their protective glasses at Hayden Lawn in ASU Tempe campus on Monday, August 21, 2017. This party is organized by ASU's School of Earth and Space Exploration. Nick Oza The Arizona Republic

From L to R. Hailey Zehring, 11, Madyson Zehring, 14, Macie Zehring, 9 , and Ashleigh Troth watch solar-eclipse with their protective glasses at Hayden Lawn in ASU Tempe campus on Monday, August 21, 2017. This party is organized by ASU's School of Earth and Space Exploration. Nick Oza The Arizona Republic

Sonja and Grace Wanebo arrived at Arizona State University at 7:15 a.m. for eclipse glasses to watch the solar eclipse on Aug. 21, 2017. They stayed more than three hours to watch the peak of the eclipse. Anne Ryman/The Republic

Arizona State University's Hayden Lawn is crowded with people watching the 2017 solar eclipse Aug. 21, 2017. ASU estimates that between 5,000 and 6,000 people turned out for the educational event sponsored by the School of Earth and Space Exploration. Anne Ryman/The Republic

ASU's School of Earth and Space Exploration hosts students as they watch the solar eclipse with their protective glasses at Hayden Lawn in ASU Tempe campus on Aug. 21, 2017. Organizers quickly ran out of the 2,500 solar glasses they ordered, but people watching the eclipse shared their glasses with others. Nick Oza/The Republic

A line forms for the telescope to see the eclipse on Hayden Lawn at ASU's Tempe campus on Aug. 21, 2017. At one point, more than 90 people were lined up to wait for a chance to look at the eclipse through telescopes. Anne Ryman/The Republic

Spectators view the solar eclipse at the Arizona Science Center in Phoenix on Aug.21, 2017. Officials said one man even lined up to get in shortly before 5 a.m., more than four hours before the eclipse started. Mark Henle/The Republic

Steven Seppala and Mariela Corella, look through special glasses at the solar eclipse as it approaches 60 percent during a viewing event hosted by Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium on the University of Arizona Mall in Tucson on Aug. 21, 2017. Rick Wiley/Arizona Daily Star

Regular sunglasses got pushed out of the way during a viewing event for the solar eclipse hosted by Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium on the University of Arizona Mall in Tucson on Aug. 21, 2017. Rick Wiley/Arizona Daily Star

Telescopes set up on the Mall gave a close-up view during a viewing event for the solar eclipse hosted by Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium on the University of Arizona Mall in Tucson on Aug. 21, 2017. Rick Wiley/Arizona Daily Star

Boris Reiss gets a hand with safety glasses over the camera lens while wearing safety glasses, while taking a picture of the solar eclipse during a viewing event for the solar eclipse hosted by Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium on the University of Arizona Mall in Tucson on Aug. 21, 2017. Rick Wiley/Arizona Daily Star

People line up at Flandrau Planetarium to purchase safety glasses to view the solar eclipse during a viewing event for the solar eclipse hosted by Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium on the University of Arizona Mall in Tucson on Aug. 21, 2017. Rick Wiley/Arizona Daily Star

Recording the moment for posterity during a viewing event for the solar eclipse hosted by Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium on the University of Arizona Mall in Tucson on Aug. 21, 2017. Rick Wiley/Arizona Daily Star

The iPhone was the camera of choice during a viewing event for the solar eclipse hosted by Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium on the University of Arizona Mall in Tucson on Aug. 21, 2017. Rick Wiley/Arizona Daily Star

Paul Tiffenbach, a volunteer tour guide with the UA Mirror Lab, helps people during a viewing event for the solar eclipse hosted by Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium on the University of Arizona Mall in Tucson on Aug. 21, 2017. Rick Wiley/Arizona Daily Star

Arizona's own hoaxer Paul Horner dies

For years, Horner published intentionally false stories designed to inflame readers and go viral. Many were picked up by news outlets and political players, leading the Washington Post to credit him with having an "enormous impact" on the 2016 presidential election.

"I think Trump is in the White House because of me," Horner told the Post in November 2016.

Sen. Jeff Flake takes on Trump

Sen. Jeff Flake, a first term Arizona Republican, took the floor of the U.S. Senate on Oct. 24 to condemn the nastiness of Republican politics in the era of President Donald Trump and announce he will serve out the remainder of his term but will not seek re-election in 2018.

"I rise today to say: Enough. We must dedicate ourselves to making sure that the anomalous never becomes normal," he told his colleagues.

In August 2009, Rep. Jeff Flake spent a week of his August break from Capitol Hill living a primitive, Gilligan's Island-style existence by himself on Jabonwod, Marshall Islands, a remote island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Here he is with a big-eyed bream. Special for The Republic

Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake address members of the media at McCain's Phoenix office on May 28, 2014, following the release of a report stating by the Veterans Affairs that at least 1,700 veterans at the medical center were not registered on the proper waiting list, putting them at risk in the convoluted scheduling process. Charlie Leight/The Republic

Sen. Jeff Flake, in a 2015 photo, helped block an Obama-era rule protecting the privacy of Internet consumers. Flake, R-Ariz., has characterized the rule as a power grab by the Federal Communications Commission. Tom Tingle/The Republic

U.S. Sens. John McCain (right) and Jeff Flake talk with the press after their roundtable discussion with President Obama at the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center in Phoenix on March 13, 2015. Mark Henle/The Republic

Daren Frank, director of the Maricopa County Stadium District, oversees repair work at Chase Field in downtown Phoenix, where construction workers are replacing concrete and steel beams that have corroded from power washing. Nick Oza/The Republic

Construction workers will replace corroded concrete and steel beams at Chase Field in downtown Phoenix. But to get to them, they need to remove seats from the stadium's lower deck. Nick Oza/The Republic

U.S. Rep. Trent Franks abruptly resigned in December after a former aide told the Associated Press that he repeatedly pressed her to carry his child, at one point offering her $5 million to act as a surrogate.

Phoenix mayor's departure looms

The eventual departure of Greg Stanton from the Phoenix mayor's office will further roil the local political scene.

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Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, who has served at the city's helm for seven years, will have to resign sometime in the next seven months to run for Congress. Sean Logan/azcentral.com

Stanton's departure will give rise to multiple other resignations as council members compete to succeed him. During this time of transition, the City Council likely will decide on important and expensive matters, including potential renovations of the Phoenix Suns' arena.

The absence of the mayor and current council members — or the addition of replacement members — could alter the fates of those projects.